Tag: fantasy books

ARC Book Review: Champion of Sorrows (Thief of Sorrows #2) by Kristen M. Long

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 530 pages
Author: Kristen M. Long
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 27th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After narrowly escaping their brief touch with death at Briarhole, Isolde Cotheran, the Hood of Arnoria, and her cadre, set their sights on retrieving what was stolen. With those she loves bound in chains destined for the mines of Elenarta, Isolde is left with only one path forward. Retribution.

When a royal summons is sent to Thornwood, demanding their attendance at the Tournament of the Guard, Isolde has her way in. An open door into the wolves den, into Elenarta. Once deemed the crowning jewel of Arnoria, the capital is now ruled with a fist of steel and ice. Erebus Tenebriath, the murderous king who sits on a stolen throne, gives Isolde an ultimatum she can’t escape. One that leaves them all not only at the mercy of Erebus, but also his Right Hand, Gage.

Dwelling in the ornate halls of a palace beneath the Oronilma Mountains, Isolde, Malaki, Blyana, and Cillian will face trials, heartbreaks, and nightmares they never dreamed possible. One decision, made out of love, will lead them all down a path of no return. A path lined with secrets, power, and betrayal. Alliances will be tested, ghosts will return from the ashy grave, and sides will be chosen. And as the veil of the past is lifted, Isolde will be faced with a fate she can no longer run from. A truth she must face head on…or burn in its light.

Thank you to the author for an ARC.

STARTED WELL.

I’ve been excited to see where this story continues and I thought it started off really well. I was intrigued by the premise for this sequel. I also adore books with multi-POV and I loved that aspect here too.

One of the things I struggled with were the antagonists. I still don’t feel like I have a reason for them being evil. It’s just, they are. And I want a little more background to truly feel angry about what they’re doing.

The competition in here had some high moments, but I’m also wondering why it was a part of the plot? I think this ties back in to my antagonist issues though.

My interest has been peaked about the direction of the romance (which, FYI, this is much more fantasy than romance. Romance takes a small sub-plot here.). I think seeing more development here will help the connection with characters.

A solid good cliff hanger type ending that does make me want to know what happens next. I do love the found family aspects of this group and how much they love and look after each other.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 3 very brief, low explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, assault, near death experiences, torture, loss of life

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Book Review: Blood & Steel (The Legends of Thezmarr #1) by Helen Scheuerer

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 504 pages
Author: Helen Scheuerer
Publisher: Alchemy
Release Date: February 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she’s always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.

Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with the protection of the five kingdoms.

The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.

All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.

Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?

If you like fierce sword-wielding heroines and brooding, tortured heroes, you will devour this sexy, addictive fantasy adventure.

Perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom, From Blood and Ash and The Witcher, BLOOD & STEEL is an epic romantic fantasy with enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn spice, found family, and a sprawling world of magic and monsters. Blood & Steel is the gripping first book in the heart-pounding, epic romantic fantasy series, The Legends of Thezmarr.

WANTED TO LOVE.

My thoughts kept waffling back and forth. This is NOT a bad book, and I still have plans to read the second one. There’s just some things in here that didn’t quite work for me.

I love a slow burn, and at times this romance felt forced. The innuendo didn’t hit well and it took me longer that I wanted to feel connected to them. It’s enemies to lovers adjacent but true enemies actually have some conflict for a bit before they’re already lusting for each other. It’s a series, bring the angst. By the end I was feeling their whole vibe enough and that’s probably the main reason I want to continue.

There’s a good building of found family and sibling dynamics. I love strong sister bonds and I love the way Thea and Wren took care of each other. I also absolutely adored Thea’s new friends and how they formed a connection to look after one another.

Occasionally I skimmed some stuff that seemed repetitive. There was a LOT of training and mock battles, etc. And while I love seeing a character actually work for improving skills I think it could have still been condensed more and then there would have been more time for world building and some magic explanations.

Overall audiece notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: innuendo + 1-2 open

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Book Review: The Shattered City (The Last Magician #4) by Lisa Maxwell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction Fantasy
Length: 768 pages
Author: Lisa Maxwell
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once, Esta believed that she could change the fate of magic. She traveled to the past and stopped the Magician from destroying a mystical book that held the key to freeing her people from the Brink, an energy barrier that traps all Mageus who cross it.

But the Book was more than she bargained for. So was the Magician she was tasked to steal it from.

Hunted by an ancient evil, Esta and Harte have raced through time and across a continent to track down the powerful artifacts they need to bind the Book’s devastating power. They’ve lost family, betrayed friends, and done what they’d both vowed never to do: fallen in love with the one person who could truly destroy them.

Now, with only one artifact left, their search has brought them back to New York, the city where it all began. But nothing in Manhattan is as they left it. Their friends have scattered, their enemies have grown more powerful, and as the deadly Brink beckons, their time is running out.

If they can’t find a way to end the threat they’ve created, then the very heart of magic will die—and it will take the world down with it.

I AM GOOD WITH THIS CONCLUSION.

I feel like I’ve worked really hard to get to this point because these books are THIIIICK. And here I am, finished. And I did like the ending a lot!! Things were wrapped up well and got plenty of happy endings for the entire cast.

What is still over my head is some aspects of the magic system. I can’t go into detail because of spoilers, but the time travel + magic artifacts + different timeline saga threw me through a loop occasionally. It mostly worked out enough at least.

I enjoyed these characters and I like the romance aspects weren’t locked up in miscommunication or third act break-up kind of stuff. Everyone worked together to defeat the evil terrorizing the foundation of magic and I love those kind of found family aspects.

If you’re in for a long haul series with multiple romances, historical fiction, time travel, magic, mayhem and more. Maybe try this on audio! I do love the audiobooks and it made some of the longer pacing balance out better.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction + Urban Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, homophobia, near death experiences, magical and physical altercations, kidnapping

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Book Review: Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time #6) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 1004 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: October 15th, 1994
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In Lord of Chaos, the sixth novel in Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time(R), Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, builds his army of Light even as sworn enemies–and supposed allies–move against him.

Now ruling Tear, Andor, and Caemlyn, among other nations, Rand is recruiting all men capable of channeling to be trained as his Asha’man soldiers. The warrior Aiel clans have pledged loyalty to Rand, acknowledging him as their chief of chiefs, even though the Shaido Aiel remain a threat.

Split into two factions, the Aes Sedai of the White Tower and their rebel counterparts both seek to ally themselves with the Dragon Reborn. Rand knows all too well the manipulative nature of the Aes Sedai, no matter which side of their internal war they stand upon. But even he cannot predict just how desperate, cruel, and treacherous they can be.

And in the shadows, the Forsaken and the Dark One are conjuring even more chaos…

INVESTED AGAIN.

I finally feel after finishing this that I am back to being invested (and understanding) of everything happening. Though the book is THICK the review won’t be because these type of epic fantasy books are too hard not to spoil.

Character progression wise I like that there was a difference in general. Some positive and some I’m just curious about. And yay for Perrin being back too! Now that I can better remember everyone I like how things are currently going.

I do not love some of the quirks of Jordan’s writing. Especially about the women. I don’t know, there’s some things that make my head tilt.

Highly recommend listening to these books. The audio is amazing and makes moving through these books a much smoother process.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: large scale battle themes, physical and magical altercations, loss of life, kidnapping, near death experiences

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